In which department is the health record number typically assigned?

The health record number is typically assigned in the Patient Registration department. This is because the Patient Registration team is responsible for collecting patients' demographic information and creating their unique identifiers in the system, which includes the assignment of the health record number. This number serves as a critical identifier that links to all the medical records and services provided to a patient throughout their interaction with the healthcare facility.

In other departments like Health Information Management, while they manage and safeguard health records, they typically do not assign the health record numbers. Nursing focuses primarily on patient care and doesn't handle administrative tasks related to record numbers. The Billing department deals with financial aspects and claims processing, rather than the initial assignments of health record numbers. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is that the health record number is assigned during the Patient Registration process.